The Best Laid Schemes...

The best laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft a-gley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promised joy.

Robert Burns "To a Mouse"

That was my ride Thursday. Not that it was fraught with grief and pain, but it certainly didn't fall out as I had planned.

I was fitting in a ride between a 3/4 day at the office and an appointment to introduce Dave to Kipp, so that Kipp could work on Dave's bike. I wanted to summit Mt. Diablo, and needed 3 hours to do it. The 3/4 day turned into the whole shebang including finishing a half dug trench (some employees haven't heard the last of this one!) on a job in Walnut Creek, and before I knew it I was an hour late for my ride, sporting a new blister, and still trying to get home.

So I hit the road anyway and made for the mountain as planned knowing I might not get past 1000' if I even made it that far. On the way, a long stoplight convinced me to make the ever tempting right hand turn to keep my rhythm and sent me on a detour that just wouldn't quit. I corrected my course by turning left and then left again, but found the road didn't go through and pushed on through Pleasant Hill neighborhoods. I wandered several miles at nearly 20 miles an hour till I came across one of the many canal trails and succumbed to the temptation - no stoplights. This should have taken me all the way to the final stretch before the climb, but of course the trail was closed for repairs just as I was entering Walnut Creek. Back on the road - not even trying for the mountain now.

One of many redlights I chanced upon

I then wandered toward the very popular Danville Blvd. where one can find dozens of cyclists at all times of the day. On the way there I turned right on Arlene - the cut through to South Main St. - right? Nope. With great charisma I tore around this circle like I belonged there, got back on Lilac, and kept looking for the correct right turn. Danville Blvd. is a long stretch of road with wide shoulders and relatively affluent commuters. But it's flat. It climbs maybe 20 - 50 feet per mile as it stretches to the south. This was no good, as I was really supposed to be climbing, so guilt forced me left at Livorna Rd. I climbed Livorna, realized I was now going to be late, and enjoyed the descent back down.

I took the most direct route I could think of to get to Kipp's house, knowing it was not likely the most direct route. Even then a series of phone calls left me propped against my bike on the side of the road eying the clock. I soon found myself on South Main in the heart of Walnut Creek (the result of another elective detour as a result of another long light) monitoring a red light at the front of a line of cars. Motivated by passing shoppers and the relative low speed limit, I left the light as if entering the Champs elysees on a warm day in July. I sped ahead of the entire line of cars for several blocks, to the cheers and applause of the crowd. Stymied and awakened by another red light, I glanced over my shoulder to gloat in the face of the vanquished - and realized that they were, in anticlimactic fashion, all still sitting several blocks back behind that first car trying to turn left.

I was late to meet the guys, but that was no surprise. I had a young cyclist pick up my draft on the final stretch, which again elicited a short burst of adrenaline. He was pretty strong and I wasn't going to drop him. We chatted at a couple of stop lights, and may be able to connect again for a ride in the future.

The only thing that really went as planned, was that Dave got a new wheel and much needed tuneup on the bike. And, I got in a ride. Not the climbing I had intended but 30 plus miles nonetheless.